Conquer Divide have just announced their new album. Slow Burn will arrive September 8 via Mascot Records. The band — vocalist Kiarely Taylor, bassist/vocalist Janel Duarte, guitarist Isabel Johnson, drummer Samantha Landa, and guitarist Kristen Sturgis— has also shared the video for new single ‘welcome2paradise.’ And it lets out a thunderous roar. “This song is special to all of us for a lot of reasons,” says Sturgis. “We really wanted to stretch our musical muscles and play around with time signatures. We recorded some of the production ourselves, including drilling sounds you’ll hear sprinkled throughout the song. Artistically, we really stepped out of our comfort zone, and we ended up with something really special.” The song also takes a close look at a very important topical issue. “It’s sad that humans don’t care about our environment,” Sturgis continues. “I was especially inspired by a situation close to my heart. I live on the Great Lakes, which contain 20% of the earth’s freshwater. There is a 70-year-old pipeline called Line 5 that is in very rough shape and runs through the water where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan meet. The current is especially turbulent there. The pipeline keeps getting hit by boat anchors. I am not here to preach anti-fossil fuels, as electric vehicles come with their own environmental tolls, and touring bands have to drive gas-guzzling vehicles to play for our fans. But if a spill happened in that spot, it’s in the worst possible place, due to the strong currents. A Great Lakes spill could affect major cities like Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Windsor, Toronto, and Rochester, NY. Tourism, fishing industries, and boating would all be affected. And with all of the droughts happening around the U.S., it’s going to be everyone’s problem soon. Right now, there’s just one small local organization trying to draw attention to it, but If I can do anything with this song release, it would be to shine a spotlight on something I care so much about.”
Belle Morte’s newest single called ‘Blame Me’ is a unique blend of symphonic metal, Armenian duduk, and blues influences. It develops the band’s international collaborative series even further, becoming the fourth song with guest musicians. With ‘Blame Me,’ the band explores the concept of intense emotions and feelings of guilt. The mournful notes of the Armenian duduk, played by Lernik Khachatrian, evoke the sense of emptiness and longing that can be found in the barren deserts.
Lake Malice continue their streak of innovatively heavy alt-anthems with new single ‘Bloodbath’ which is self-released by the Brighton-based duo. ‘Bloodbath’ is lyrically descriptive of abusive and controlling relationships, acting as a rallying cry against being stuck in that spiral of abuse. Vocalist Alice Guala says “’Bloodbath’ carries a potent message about the perils of abusive relationships and explores the painful and all too common experience of feeling trapped with a controlling partner. This song is an anthem for anyone who has ever felt trapped and alone.” Alice shifts seamlessly between pure soaring melodies and guttural screams as she flexes her vocal prowess throughout ‘Bloodbath’. This duality is mirrored in the music video which glitches between two different Alices and takes inspiration from cyberpunk classics like ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘The Fifth Element’.
MODERN MIMES, the alternative heavy rock outfit from South Florida have just unleashed their new single ‘Heavy Heart’. Following their latest single ‘Down and Dead’, ‘Heavy Heart’ ventures into darker realms. Heavy distortion, dynamic electronics and stunning vocals combine to create a thrilling and powerful offering. The band say: “We aren’t saints. We aren’t prophets. We are simply emphatic people with an ear to the whispers of the future. When the waves of messages come, we put it into songs and let the spirits guide us. We stand for strength, grounding, magic, becoming, expansion; opening the doors to your own portals. We are MODERN MIMES”.
UK mathcore trio Pupil Slicer have leveled up big time on their sophomore album, Blossom, expanding on the head-spinning sound of their 2021 debut, Mirrors, with elements of grunge, shoegaze, electronic music and more. So far, fans have gotten to hear the LP’s alt-rock-inflected title track, the much heavier rager ‘No Temple’ and the fiery, dynamic new single ‘Momentary Actuality.’ The song arrived accompanied by a cinematic music video that continues Blossom’s cosmic horror rock opera storyline. Watch and listen above. Pupil Slicer commented in a joint statement: “‘Momentary Actuality’ serves as the starting point for the story of Blossom and also encapsulates a musical mission statement for the album, the song encompasses a broad range of styles that are found on the rest of Blossom. This song really showcases our progression as musicians on a technical as well as compositional level, with a lot of care taken to craft a very satisfying structure to the over-the-top riffs and breakdowns we’ve come to be known for.” [via Revolver]
All the world’s a stage, and Melbourne chaotic metalcore outfit The Last Martyr take their place atop theirs with new single ‘Comedy/Tragedy’. ‘Comedy/Tragedy’ is a bold, sassy new offering that mixes fierce electronic elements with heavy foundations and pop flare, produced by Chris Lalic (Windwaker). The track is about faking happiness while you’re fully aware that everything around you is burning. “So many of us wear a mask or play a character in our everyday lives and in a lot of ways, it helps us,” explains vocalist Monica Strut. “But there comes a point where being incongruent with your true self, or ignoring certain negative aspects of our lives starts to take a huge toll. The song is written from the perspective of being aware that something is wrong but not wanting to admit it yet. It’s sarcastic, angry and just a little unhinged.” The song moves through theatrical moments that contrast the manic highs with the diving lows, showcasing Struts lacerating screams. The swirling instrumentals compliment the sentiments of the lyrics, echoing the metaphor of the carousel spinning around in a cycle of denial. [via Everblack]
